Currently running SRAM Rival 11-42t x 40t on my gravel bike (Ibis Hakka) mechanical. Needing a bit more range for big local climbs. I see a lot of guys running the mullet set-ups on their rigs. Buddy’s have upgraded to SRAM XPLR. Looking for a cheaper way of getting a mullet mtb style set-up. Does anyone have any advice for the most cost effective way of doing this? Wanting to stay mechanical. What all would I need? Cassette and derailleur? Or entire Drivetrain wheel set?
by MDELA-HEIRO
2 Comments
if you want to stay mechanical shifting, and also don’t want to swap brakes/want to stay in SRAM’s ecosystem, look into the stuff that https://ratiotechnology.com/ offers. The have kits to:
* simply [swap out the cage on your derailleur](https://ratiotechnology.com/product/ratio-derailleur-cage/) to let you run a bigger (non-SRAM) 11-speed cassette
* update your shifter with a 1×12 ratchet and run a 12-speed PG-1130 SRAM Eagle cassette, either with:
* [your current derailleur (with a new longer cage)](https://ratiotechnology.com/product/1×12-wide-cage/) (this is probably the best/cheapest option for you imho)
* a SRAM Eagle derailleur with one of their modified cable fins ([1](https://ratiotechnology.com/product/12-speed-upgrade-kit/), [2](https://ratiotechnology.com/product/1×12-wide-rear-cable/))
* [Ratio’s own derailleur](https://ratiotechnology.com/product/mech/).
* or a bunch of other options that will result in changing more stuff out
Srams 42t derailleurs can stomach a 46t cassette without modification. I used a ratio technologies cage, like semyorka suggested, to run a CS-M5100-11 11-51t cassette with road 11spd. works great. sram doesn’t have any 52t 11spd cassettes that work on HG free hubs. I’ve messed with sunshine and sun race cassettes but didn’t like the shifting to bother to spend money.
the other reason I went with ratio is they were the cheapest option for a silver cage that wasn’t aliexpress, but that was just to match the ascetics of my bike better.
and you’d want a new chain at the same time.